Day after Twitter gaffe, Mathura MP Hema Malini stopped at clash site

A day after drawing flak for her allegedly insensitive tweets during a clash that left 24 dead at Jawahar Bagh, Mathura MP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Hema Malini was not allowed to enter the site of the incident on Saturday.

Hema Malini met the family members of SP City Mukul Dwivedi & expressedher condolences on Saturday. (Twitter)

A day after drawing flak for her allegedly insensitive tweets during a clash that left 24 dead at Jawahar Bagh, Mathura MP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Hema Malini was not allowed to enter the site of the incident on Saturday.

Malini was criticised for being absent on Friday, and for sharing photos of her film shoot on social media, much to the embarrassment of her party. She reached Mathura on Saturday at about 10:30 am.

On arrival, she went to Jawahar Bagh at 11 am, but her car was stopped at the gate. When she tried to walk in, police officers stationed at the gate denied her entry. The BJP leader also allegedly had an altercation with the police, following which she left without interacting with the media.

Malini in a series of tweets on Thursday had shared the location and photos of the shoot of her upcoming film: “Shooting at Madh island for Ek Thi Rani-a film based on the life of HH Vijaya Raje Scindia revived after many years.I play the title role (sic),” she tweeted. “Hoping for an early release of this film.”

However, Malini soon realised her mistake and deleted the tweets.

“So so upset by ths news frm a place which is so dear to me Will go there again if my presence is required. My heart goes out to the bereaved,” she said, expressing sadness of over the deaths of two policemen in the clash.

The Mathura MP on Saturday again took to micro-blogging site Twitter, this time to target the media for “diverting attention from the main issue” — the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.

“In Mathura&condoled with the bereaved families. I still can’t understand how the great media thinks the sansad is responsible for law & order. They seem to be diverting attn frm the main issue -tht law & order is purely the state govt’s responsibility. Why target me? I’m doing my job (sic),” she wrote in a series of tweets.

Met the family members- father, wife, brother & son of SP City Mukul Dwivedi & expressed my deep grief at their loss pic.twitter.com/iYmORf4Dpv

“A sansad’s duty is not to head the police force or quell rebels or evict encroachers. Development is my line of duty and I’m sincere in my job,” she said. “I invite all those who are blasting me without reason and who have not stepped into Mathura and yet are ready to accuse, to come and see for themselves.”

The 67-year-old actress claimed that she was dedicating so much time to her constituency that sometimes she sees her family after many days.

“What do I get in return for my sincerity? Brickbats and loud accusations. I sincerely thank all of you who have supported me in this controversy,” she added.

The Mathura MP was in her constituency to participate in a ‘dharna (sit-in)’ called by the BJP at Civil Lines to protest against the way the Jawahar Bagh incident was handled by the state government. The BJP contends that the fact that the squatters illegally held Jawahar Bagh for more than two years points to the failure of the state.